Save Our Schools Now. Tough Times Ahead for Public Education.

Soon after the teacher led 4-day “Save Our Schools” rally in Washington ended on an upbeat note, the debit ceiling debacle reared its ugly head.

How will debt ceiling affect K-12 education?

Reduced overall dollars for education since federal spending will be reduced by $7 billion in fiscal year 2012.

Public schools face a further squeeze or possible extinction in the future. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), ranking Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee, told the Associated Press that “discretionary spending cuts imposed by the deal would make life much more difficult for public schools.” Other pundits predict the Department of Education may see reductions of more than 6%.

What lies ahead for educators this upcoming school year is daunting at best. Will the mandates in the position papers developed by “Save Our Schools” thought leaders be translated into real action? Or will the passion for teaching & learning enkindled by the rally be drowned by administrative set-backs, limited budgets, and other bureaucratic barriers to holistic education reform? As we turn our attention to providing guidance and support to our teachers this upcoming year, let us not forget that teaching is a profession, and teachers are professionals.

Read more on early predictions about how education funding will factor into the Commission’s deficit-reduction plans: